Folding double car-step.



H. J. REGO.

FOLDING DOUBLE CAR STEP. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 25. 1915.

1,138,975. Patented May 11, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- W/TNESS'ES. v INVENTOR Q WA/ l eio ATTORNEY THE NORRISPETERS CON FHOTC-LITHO.. WASHINGTON. D. c.

H. J. REGO.

FOLDING DOUBLE CAR STEP. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 25. 915.

1,1 38,975. Patnted May 11, 1915.

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THE NORRIS PETERS CO, FHOTU-LITHQ. WASHINGYDN, D C

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HENRY J. REGO, OF SAN JOSE, CALIFGRNIA.

FOLDING DOUBLE GAR-STEP.

, Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 11, 1915.

Application filed January 25, 1915. Serial No. 4,303.

T all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY J. Rneo, a citizenof the United States, residing at San Jose, in the county of Santa Claraand State of California, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Folding Double Car-Steps, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to the class of folding car-steps, and it consistsin the novel construction and arrangement of the double step and itsoperating connections which I shall hereinafter fully describe. Steps ofthis class are, by reason of their folding, well adapted for one-mancars, in that they may be so directly manipulated by the single operatoras to afford access to the car only at his will; and, by being double,said steps are particularly adapted for cars which are raised relativelyhigh from the ground, as they furnish a low step, making it easy forpassengers to get on and off the car.

The object of my invention is to provide an effective double-stepadapted by the operation of simple mechanism to be readily dropped foruse and lifted again to inoperative position.

Referring to the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is an end elevation ofmy car-step and its operative mechanism, the dotted lines showing theclosed or inoperative position.

i Fig. 2 is a detail, in plan, of one end of the lower step. Fig. 3 is afront elevation of my car-step showing it dropped for use. Fig. 1 is afront elevation of the same showing the step lifted out of use.

1 is the car platform. To this platform are bolted at 2, the hangers 3.These hangers are best arranged in pairs or bent double as shown, onepair being at each end of the steps. The members of each pair are parallel and spaced apart sufficiently to form rigid guides between whichare pivoted the inner ends of the step supporting arms. There are twosets of arms, the upper ones geing designated by 1, and the lower ones y5. and the latter carry the lower step 7, one arm being near each end ofeach step. The upper step arms 4: are pivoted at 8 between their spacedhanger pairs 3 and the lower step arms 5 are pivoted in their hangers at9. Secured to the hangers are the fixed stops 10 for the upper step-armsand the fixed stops 11 for the lower step-arms. These limit the downwardmovement of the arms and The former carry the upper step 6' support thesteps in horizontal position for use. The upper and lower step-arms, atone end of the steps, are connected by a link 12. At its lower end thelink is pivoted on a pin 18, secured in the lower step arm,-but at itsupper end said link has an elongated slot 14 which plays over a pin 15in the upper steparm.

16 is the operating lever. This is pivoted at 17 to a bearing on the carplatform, and its lower end is pivoted at 18 to a link 19, the lower endof which is pivoted on the pin 13 of the lower step-arm.

The relative positions, shapes and dimensions of the several parts aresuch that in moving from the positions shown in Fig. 1, by the fulllines, in which the steps are dropped for use, to the positions shown indotted lines, in which the steps are folded up out of use, it will beseen that the lower step first rises about its pivotal centers 9,carrying the link 12 upward, the slot 11 of said link playing freelyover the pin 15 of the upper step; but-when the bottom of the slot 14:reaches the pin 15, the link 12 picks up the upper step and both stepsthen travel upward to a position of rest.

I claim 1. A folding double car-step comprising fixed hangers dependingfrom the car; upper and lower steps; step-carrying arms pivotallyconnected with said hangers; a link pivotally connected at its lower endwith an arm of the lower step, said link having in its upper end a slotadapted for limited play upon a pin in an arm of the upper step; andmeans applied to the arm of the lower step for swinging both steps aboutthe pivotal connection of their arms.

2. A folding double car-step comprising fixed hangers depending from thecar; upper and lower steps; step-carrying arms pivotally connected withsaid hangers; a link pivotally connected at its lower end with an arm ofthe lower step, said link havingin its upper end a slot adapted forlimited play upon a pin in an arm of the upper step; an operating leverpivotally mounted on the car; and a link connecting said lever with thearm of the lower step, to swing both steps about the pivotal connectionsof their arms.

3. A folding double car-step comprising fixed hangers depending from thecar; upper and lower steps; step-carrying arms pivotally connected withsaid hangers; a

link pivotally connecting the carrying arms of the two steps; meansapplied to one of said step-carrying arms for swinging the connectedsteps about the pivotal connections of their arms; and fixed stopscarried by the hangers to limit the downward swing of the step-carryingarms and to support their steps in operative position.

l. A folding double car-step comprising fixed hangers depending from thecar; upper and lower steps; step-carrying arms pivotally connected withsaid hangers; a link pivotally connected at its lower end with an arm ofthe lower step, said link having in its upper end a slot adapted forlimited play upon a pin in an arm of the upper step; means applied tothe arm of the lower step for swinging both steps about the pivotalconnection of their arms; and fixed stops carried by the hangers tolimit the downward swing of the step-carrying arms and to support theirsteps in operative position.

5. A folding double car-step comprising fixed hangers depending from thecar; upper and lower steps; step-carrying arms pivotally connected withsaid hangers; a link pivotally connecting the carrying arms of the twosteps; an operating lever pivotally mounted on the car; a linkconnecting saidlever with one of said step carrying arms, to swing theconnected steps about the pivotal connections of their arms; and fixedstops carried by the hangers to limit the downward swing of thestep-carrying arms and to support their steps in operative position.

G. A folding double car-step comprising fixed hangers depending from thecar; upper and lower steps; step-carrying arms pivotally connected withsaid hangers; a link pivotally connected at its lower end with an arm ofthe lower step, said link having in its upper end a slot adapted forlimited play upon a pin in an arm of the upper step; an operating leverpivotally mounted on the car; a link connecting said lever with the armof the lower step, to swing both steps about the pivotal connections oftheir arms; and fixed stops carried by the hangers to limit the downwardswing of the ste carrying arms and to support their steps in operativeposition.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY J. REGO.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

0 Washington, D. 0'.

